Saturday, November 19, 2011

Poetics: Changing Lanes (or A roadtrip with Poe)

The car is out of control, careening corners
and Edgar Allen Poe has commandeered the radio

Every channel he turns to the songs are so dour,
and between them, even using his happy voice,
dj E.A.P. can't make the news more bleak---

He mumbles something about populous pits
and politicians controlling the pendulum,
or---maybe he said asylum, it was his
third point so i forget.

Looking east, I wish on satellites, somewhere
over Georgia in decaying orbits, a 'little
change in my pocket' and though it may
be little, it is Change, You Can Believe In,
at least what is left after taxes---

We dreamt once, but the raven's wings
blot the horizon & without the sun we've lost
direction, we just sing along to songs replaying
but don't stop to think what the words are saying

"Nevermore, nevermore," I hear, then ask

"What?"

He sighs, "Take me back to Baltimore,
so I can Usher in the Apocalypse."

Brakes squeal, smoke from our tires passing us,
"Get out! I know you been here before, so poor
you burned the furniture, but I can't take it anymore.
You may wall yourself up in the wine cellar, but
as long as I have two cents to rub together to keep
warm and share, I refuse to settle for a better future
we won't recognize when we see her."

He stares grim, then the raven once more hugs
his head from behind, covering his eyes

And my heavy heart settles in my foot on the gas
leaving his last words hanging, "For the love of God!"
by the side of the road

Out the window, I answer, "Yes, For the love of God!"
because, I refuse to become another disillusioned victim, just
in time to hear a campaign ad come over the radio, so sing
at the top of my lungs---

"Don't gimme no lines, an' keep your hands to yourself."

Over at dVerse Poets today, Sheila Moore is manning the pub and looking for change, because we seem to have run out in the register. Perhaps you can bring some change in your poems today to help out. Smiles. See you at 3 pm for Poetics.

All due respect to Poe, he is a favorite. And a nod to Terry Jacobus who was one of the first spoken word poets I listened to and thought, I can do that, changing the way I looked at poetry.

89 comments:

Wow great use of references todayFor your dVerse playSo the apocalypse will start in Baltimore?Remind me to avoid that states shoreAnd after taxes not much change remainsEnough to pop a few veinsI agree keep those germy mits to yourselfWill cause ocd at my self..haha

Wow, Brian, you have outdone yourself here. Politicians controlling the asylum. LOL. Ah yes, and how many times we sing along to words, not thinking what we are saying. And there's always that raven we can't escape.

Incredible, Brian. I have read this out loud twice and it is actually very inspirational and determined. I also have two cents which is just enough to offer up a smile and not enough to tempt the tax man into taking more. I am a major Poe fan and I believe he is applauding this poem as well.

Oh yes, this reads as though it were spoken. Clever, clever and true. The raven will always be at our shoulder, or hovering in the air, but as for "not thinking what the words are saying" Nevermore. Nevermore.

I love the references, and the reality, and the rejection--there are quite a few things I'd like to see "Nevermore." (There were at least three, but I can only remember two, and "ummm, Libya?? I know I really disagree with the socialist Kenyan, but how exactly??--what a stumper.")Change happens, but what to believe in, now that's a true tale of mystery and imagination. See you at the pub, where we can find surcease of sorrow, perhaps.

Change is inevitable isn't it? and, when it's for the better it's a good thing.Poe was such a good writer. I had read snippets of his life here and there and one poem he wrote about someone called Charlotte (I think) which I thought was so good.Loved this from you again Brian.

this has a beat like gunfire brian and together with the text, the passion and the slingering car makes me stand upright and alert, joining in that chorus together with those that are so sick of promises of change that really leave us plundered...smiles

In the world right now, change is becoming the norm. What will we do with ourselves when things settle down and the pendulum rests in the middle? Never a dull moment in the 21st century so far! Can't let ourselves get sucked into the undertow.

One further thought--I agree that the current scene is extremely disheartening--but from a downtown New Yorker's perspective, very little could be worse than 2001-2002. Come to think of it, 2008 was pretty bad too. I know I live in a small pocket here and we were probably particularly affected during those years.

Very cool. Love the imagery. Agree we need some kind of change, 'cause clearly whatever is going on ain't working. "He stares grim, then the raven once more hugs his head from behind, covering his eyes..." is my fave. Hmmmmm...may have some artwork coming for that one....

Love Poe, Love GS (used to sing Change in my Pocket as an "encore" in the cover band days) If only there was a way to see the good that normally comes...no matter how painful the break may be...I'm waiting patiently to see it on my end of things...and awesome writes such as this will keep me in the game longer! Thank you!

This is so, so amazing. You write good grim! For me it expresses the feeling of disillusionment that seems to pervade the atmosphere right now. What a great idea to employ Poe and his buddy to make your point.

The politician, the tax man and the raven.I'll settle for the raven to accompany me through the staccato bursts of great poetry reading.If it turns morbid as ravens do then it can perch on the orbital debris and get abandoned!

Gee, Brian, wonderful poem, so deep and complex in some ways - totally brilliant. I think the politicians belong in the asylum - or maybe the rest of us do, lol, if we can't recognise a better future when we see it! You have done this one extremely well - and this time I don't think it's over my head, haha!

So much has been said here that this could be true of any place in the world!! The politics, the taxes or the media!! The serious thoughts interspersed with much comic relief, coming perfectly timed!! Smiles!!

I refuse to become another disillusioned victim, justin time to hear a campaign ad come over the radio, so singat the top of my lungs---

"Don't gimme no lines, an' keep your hands to yourself"

I do love that song! And campaign ads on BOTH sides of the fence are disheartening. I wish they would just "sell" themselves and not take the other guy down. But, that's the way it has always been. Fun read, Brian.

As I read your lovely post I suddenly remembered the poem Raven written by Poe.

This poem was first published in January 1845. It is often noted for its musicality, stylized language, and supernatural atmosphere. It tells of a talking raven's mysterious visit to a distraught lover, tracing the man's slow descent into madness. The lover, often identified as being a student, is lamenting the loss of his love, Lenore. Sitting on a bust of Pallas, the raven seems to further instigate his distress with its constant repetition of the word "Nevermore".

I do love that song. I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing :) This is really cool and uber-creative. Your brain must be a great place. Thanks for letting us in to get a sneak peek on your-mind movies.

And a nod to Terry Jacobus who was one of the first spoken word poets I listened to and thought, I can do that, changing the way I looked at poetry. And, yes, you sure can! This was wonderfully entertaining, like a rallying call to the sane side...

He mumbles something about populous pitsand politicians controlling the pendulum,or---maybe he said asylum, it was histhird point so i forget.

And the image of the Raven hugging Poe's head, covering his eyes....fantastic.

awesome - awesome - awesome. and the georgia satellite song went through my head a hundred times when working on this prompt which made me ecstactic to see it here. What fun! And such a weave of modern issues with classic poetry references and the whole car scene. Really entralling.

Poe, yes...love his "Alone;" it's my all-time favorite...i am sure you know it..."From childhood's hour I have not been As others were; I have not seen As others saw; I could not bring My passions from a common spring. From the same source I have not taken My sorrow; I could not awaken My heart to joy at the same tone; And all I loved, I loved alone." sigh. beautiful. there's more but i don't know it offhand...